36th Middlesex seat in GOP crosshairs with Baker visit

By Robert Mills, rmills@lowellsun.com and Chris Camire ccamire@lowellsun.com

Updated:
11/01/2012 08:52:47 AM EDT

Former Republican gubernatorial candidate Charlie Baker of Swampscott revs up supporters of state Rep. candidate Cathy Richardson at the Tyngsboro Sportsmen's Club on Tuesday evening. SUN/Julia Malakie

TYNGSBORO -- Former Harvard-Vanguard CEO Charlie Baker, who lost the race for governor to Deval Patrick in 2010, has not been a very visible face on the campaign trail this year.

But that didn't stop the Republican from making an appearance on behalf of Dracut Selectman Cathy Richardson in Tyngsboro, who is challenging 18-year incumbent Colleen Garry, D-Dracut, for the 36th Middlesex House seat. Baker braved a dreary Tuesday following Monday's storm to speak on Richardson's behalf at the Tyngsboro Sportsmen's Club.

Richardson is seen as one of their best chances to add a GOP seat to the overwhelmingly Democratic state House of Representatives, said Tim Buckley, a spokesman for the Massachusetts Republican Party. The district, which consists of Dracut and Tyngsboro, is one of the most conservative in the state (see related article).

Garry, who was first elected in 1994, bucked the Republican trend in Dracut and Tyngsboro in 2010. With 54 percent of the vote, she fended off challenges from Republican George Boag (36 percent) and independent Matthew Sheehan (10 percent) to win a ninth term on Beacon Hill.

In the 2008 presidential election, Republican John McCain eked out a 70-vote victory over President Barack Obama in Dracut and won Tyngsboro by 2 percentage points. Statewide, McCain only captured 48 of 351 cities and towns.

State Democrats and Republicans have shined a spotlight on the Garry-Richardson matchup in recent weeks.

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Last month, Republicans called attention to errors on Garry's campaign-finance report and raised questions about the character of several of her donors. Days later, Democrats unearthed an active default warrant declaring Richardson had failed to pay a heating-oil bill.

"We kind of rank the districts and the races we think we can win," said Buckley. "It's not always about volume. It's about quality."

"I think Colleen has done an excellent job representing her constituents, and I'm confident they will re-elect her next Tuesday," he said.

There were only about 35 people at the Tyngsboro Sportsmen's Club for Richardson's fundraiser, but Baker said Richardson is exactly the type of person he would like to see on Beacon Hill, noting her lifelong family ties to Dracut and fiscal conservatism.

"She's not one of these people who will forget where she's from," Baker said. "She won't get to Beacon Hill and start thinking she lives there."

Richardson said she got an endorsement from Citizen's for Limited Taxation.

"I will do the best I can to make sure we don't have any new taxes," Richardson said. "It's a feeding frenzy down there."

Baker noted that despite his failed bid for governor and other GOP disappointments in statewide races, Republicans made major headway in 2010, nearly doubling their presence in the House. Baker said the result prompted Democratic leaders to make a shift to the right, refusing to raise taxes and passing several other bills because they took notice of GOP gains.

"If you send a reformer up there, if you send a fiscal conservative, they will notice," Baker said.

Baker, who served as a selectman in his native Swampscott from 2004-2007, praised Richardson for serving at the local level. He recounted being accosted for his votes as a selectman while shopping for groceries, and said the experience of taking part in municipal government is one that more Beacon Hill leaders should have.

"There's nothing like being a local official to make you really understand what it means to be accountable," Baker said. "You belong to your community when you serve at the local level."

Baker has not been active on the stump for Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney or Brown. He said he has been working with Republican Richard Tisei's campaign against 6th District U.S. Rep. John Tierney and has made 20 or 30 appearances for other candidates around the state.

In September, he endorsed Republican Westford Selectman Valerie Wormell, who is trying to unseat state Rep. James Arciero, D-Westford, in the 2nd Middlesex District.

Although Baker has given no indication he will run again, political insiders expect him to mount another bid for governor in 2014. Patrick has said he will not seek re-election, and both Lt. Gov. Tim Murray and state Treasurer Steve Grossman have indicated they may seek the Democratic nomination.

"I hope we get to put him in the governor's office in 2014," Richardson said after Baker left the event.

Follow Robert Mills and Chris Camire on Twitter @Robert_Mills, @camirereports.

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